Well folks, I'm here, I'm settled in and I'm blogging again. Some initial thoughts about being back: WHOOHOO!!!!! and that's maybe it. : ) Things are great. The new apartments are fantastic, everything I dreamed they would be and more! My classroom is light-years ahead of what I had last time. I have new computers, a network with a server in my classroom, and I'm on the 4th floor with all the other International teachers, I really couldn't ask for anything more!
It's kind of strange sometimes because I get this weird feeling like I never left and yet there are enough changes around here that I'm very aware I've been gone. Some of the restaurants have changed, there are a bunch of new apartments in Clifford, and it's definiately starting to feeling like there are hundreds of thousands of people living in our little community. Guangzhou has increased from 12 million to 16 million since I was last here, and the neighbouring town of Shiqiao (pop. 3 million in 2007) is now literally right outside my bedroom window.
On the up side, the Asia games are coming to Guangzhou next summer and so the Guangdong province has taken some lessons from Beijing and all sorts of regulations are in place now to clean up the air quality. Right now only factories are being effected by the regulations, but we could be seeing similar traffic restrictions later on too. But I have to say, it has made a huge difference already. Most days have had relatively clear blue skies, save for that pesky typhoon that's blowing around us right now. The breeze is great, but the rain not so much.
So I guess that's it for now. I've posted pictures of the new apartment already and I'll keep you updated here as I add more pics.
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